Speedy resolution of IPR disputes vital for India: Infosys

Bangalore, Mar 11 (UNI) With India emerging as a knowledge source to the whole world, speedy disposal of disputes relating to Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) violations is very important, IT major Infosys Technologies Co-Chairman Nandan M Nilekani has said.

Delivering the keynote address at a seminar on 'Challenges in Enforcement of IPR', organised by the Karnataka Judicial Academy here last night, he said IPR had become a 'perishable commodity' due to fast changing technologies and new findings lasting only a few months or years.

''It is critical that the courts ensure speedy resolution of cases relating to IPR as it is knowledge intensive. It brings knowledge issue as a whole into sharp focus. Hence, implications of guarding the findings of companies and individuals has become a critical requirement,'' he said.

Mr Nilekani said protection of IPR was closely connected with attracting foreign investment. The country should show to the world that it was in the forefront of protecting these concerns.

Hence, speed, efficiency and consistency in judgment was key to effective resolution of IPR related cases, he said.

''There has been a concern outside the country that in India, litigation connected to IPR violations took time. We have to make it clear to the world that we always play to the rule when it comes to IPR and courts will have to act fast in these cases,'' he said.

The IT honcho expressed happiness that Karnataka courts were much more sensitive to the issue of resolution of IPR issues and had been in the forefront of speedy resolution of disputes.

''New technologies like Nano science are so complex that the IPR issues would also get complex. The courts can make a big leap by adopting technology in their day to day work. This can bring a lot of advantages to the law enforcing agencies,'' he said.

Citing the example of the stock exchanges in the country, Mr Nilekani said they had transformed due to smart use of technology.

Computerisation of the tax department had resulted in vast improvement. ''The tax regime has become modern and this resulted in 40 per cent growth in tax collection,'' he pointed out.

The other notable example was wider use of voting machines in the country. Technology use had also benefitted in speedy implementation of national projects, he added.